ON ST. APOLLONIUS, MARTYR, AT ICONIUM IN CAPPADOCIA. A notice from the Greek Menæa.
Apollonius, Martyr at Iconium in Cappadocia (S.)
I. P.
The printed Menæa report briefly of this Martyr, that, brought before Perinius, governor of Iconium, professing Christ, the idols being rejected, he was fastened to a cross with nails, and completed his martyrdom. The Supplement to the said Menæa moreover has him, from the Synaxarion of Sirmond and the Manuscript of Chifflet, The memory of this Saint, and eulogies where to his eulogy the two following little verses are prefixed:
Ἀπολλωνίῳ σταυρὸς ἡ τιμωρία, Εἰπεῖν δ᾽ ἀληθῶς, σταυρὸς ἡ σωτηρία.
For Apollonius the cross is his punishment; to speak truly, the cross is his salvation.
I subjoin his eulogy, which is there thus set forth:
Οὖτος ἦν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως Σαρδέων τῆς ἐν Λυδίᾳ, καὶ προσαχθεὶς Περινίῳ τῷ Ἄρχοντι, ἐν τῷ Ἰκονίῳ ἐνδημοῦντι, ὡμολόγησιν ἑαυτὸν Χριστιανὸν. Εἰς τήν τύχην δὲ τοῦ Βασιλέως άναγκασθεὶς ὁμῶσαι, εἶπε, μὴ εἶναι θεμιτόν εἰς Βασιλέα θνητὸν ὁμώσειν, καὶ μάλιστα τὸν ποιητὴν καὶ δημιουργὸν τοῦ παντὸς μὴ ἐπιγινώσκοντα. Ἐπὶ τούτοις σταυρῷ ἀναστηθεὶς τῷ Θεῷ τὸ πνεῦμα παρέθετο.
He was a native of the city of the Sardians, which is in Lydia, and, brought before Perinius the Governor, dwelling at Iconium, he professed himself a Christian. But when he had been compelled to swear by the fortune of the Emperor, he said that it was not lawful to swear by a mortal Emperor, and especially by one who did not acknowledge the maker and fashioner of all things. Therefore, hung on a cross, he delivered up his spirit to God. With which the Menology of Sirleto agrees.
[2] drawn out from various Greek registers. Nor indeed is his memory passed over in the Manuscript Menæa of the Ambrosian Library, in the Menæon of Chifflet, in the Index to the printed Menæa, and in Maximus, Bishop of Cythera. The Roman Martyrology thus announces him: At Iconium, of St. Apollonius the Martyr, who by the cross accomplished a notable martyrdom. The Basilian Synaxarion wove a eulogy somewhat more prolix than the former, which I here render into Latin: Apollonius, Martyr of Christ, was a native of the region of Lydia, of the city of the Sardians. He went about the whole city and region, teaching the word of truth, and converting many of the unbelievers to the Lord. Being therefore denounced by the idolaters of the city of Iconium to the Prefect, he was seized, and led in chains to him, stood before him, and, being questioned, confessed himself a servant of Christ. Whence, compelled to swear by the fortune of the Emperor, he said that it was not lawful to swear by a mortal Emperor, and especially by one who did not acknowledge God, the maker of the world. Having said these things, by the command of the Governor, he was violently beaten, and hung on a tree, and fastened to it with iron nails, and delivered up his spirit to God; and thus, the course of martyrdom being completed, he received the kingdom of heaven.